In the Tapan (Scheduled Tribe-reserved) assembly constituency of West Bengal, the Bharatiya Janata Party's Budhrai Tudu emerged victorious in the 2026 state elections, securing a total of 1,05,780 votes. The Trinamool Congress candidate, Chintamoni Biha, trailed behind with only 68,793 votes, reflecting a significant margin of victory for the sitting BJP MLA.
2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections: Tapan Constituency
The Tapan (ST) constituency witnessed a three-way contest in the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections. The primary contenders were Chintamoni Biha of the Trinamool Congress, Budhrai Tudu of the Bharatiya Janata Party, and Bankim Chandra Toppo of the Indian National Congress. The election results highlighted the BJP's continued strength in the tribal belts of West Bengal, building on its gains from the 2021 election cycle.
Constituency Profile and History
Tapan is a Scheduled Tribe-reserved assembly constituency located in the Dakshin Dinajpur district. It falls under the Balurghat Lok Sabha constituency. The seat encompasses the Dwip Khanda, Gophanagar, Harsura, Malancha, and Tapan Chandipur gram panchayats of the Tapan community development block, along with several panchayats from the Balurghat community development block. The constituency is predominantly rural and has a significant tribal population. Historically, the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) held a firm grip on the seat for decades.
In the 2016 assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress's Bachchu Hansda defeated the RSP's Raghu Urow to win the seat, continuing TMC's success in the area from 2011. However, the 2021 elections brought a dramatic reversal: the BJP's Budhrai Tudu defeated the TMC's Kalpana Kisku by a narrow margin of 1,650 votes, reflecting the broader BJP surge in Bengal's tribal belts during that election cycle.
2026 Election Dynamics
The 2026 contest was closely fought, with the BJP seeking to defend its 2021 gain with sitting MLA Budhrai Tudu. The Trinamool Congress fielded a new candidate in Chintamoni Biha, while the Congress fielded Bankim Chandra Toppo. The results showed a clear victory for Tudu, who increased his vote share significantly compared to the narrow margin in 2021. This outcome underscores the BJP's consolidation of support in the region, while the TMC and Congress struggled to make inroads.
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